Sen. Scott Brown returns from training mission in Kazakhstan

Sunday

Jun 24, 2007 at 12:01 AMJun 24, 2007 at 1:32 AM

Since 1979, when Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham, joined the National Guard looking for adventure, the Guard has sent him flying out of airborne planes and on missions around the world. Brown, a lieutenant colonel, recently returned from duty in Kazakhstan, where he spent a week practicing disaster preparedness with his counterparts from the East Asian country, as well as Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and the United Nations. "We were simulating a natural disaster, an 8.0 earthquake, there was dam breakage and then terrorist cells trying to infiltrate. The situation just kept getting more and more intense," said Brown, who took on the role of international coordinator during the training.

By Lindsey Parietti, DAILY NEWS STAFF

Since 1979, when Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham, joined the National Guard looking for adventure, the Guard has sent him flying out of airborne planes and on missions around the world.

Brown, a lieutenant colonel, recently returned from duty in Kazakhstan, where he spent a week practicing disaster preparedness with his counterparts from the East Asian country, as well as Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and the United Nations.

"We were simulating a natural disaster, an 8.0 earthquake, there was dam breakage and then terrorist cells trying to infiltrate. The situation just kept getting more and more intense," said Brown, who took on the role of international coordinator during the training.

"I worked very closely with UN representatives and the NGO (non-governmental organization) representatives in trying to get aid, cash, trucks and food," he said. "When I sent out an order it had to be translated in Russian and Farsi. Sometimes it was cumbersome, but I learned a lot."

And when the language barrier proved to be an obstacle, Brown said he and his fellow soldiers just laughed.

"One time I was just standing there moving my hands, relaxing and stretching them, and one of the translators came up to me and said it was an insult to some people to move my hands like that."

The soldiers spent time talking about their cultures and exchanged gifts as a part of an effort to build ties between the five countries.

"Part of the purpose of these type of country building missions is so when they think of the U.S., they think of individuals, they think of us," said Brown.

He gave Natick Police hats, Red Sox apparel and Sen. Brown pens in exchange for locally made clothing and food.

"Rices and lamb and horse are pretty big over there, and the beer is pretty strong," said Brown. He described the cuisine as having a Russian, Mongolian and Middle Eastern flair.

He was also surprised by the rapid growth of Astana, Kazakhstan's capital, which is fueled by oil profits.

"It is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city," he said. "I counted 300 cranes just riding from the airport. If you take the development in Boston and multiply it 50 times that is the amount of development in Astana."

Although Brown called the 36-hour trip from Boston to Astana "torture," he returned with a new perspective on Eastern Asia and the Middle East.

"I spent a lot of time with the delegation from Pakistan talking about the Muslim religion and terrorism. I think the biggest thing they wanted me to take away is how many Muslims are very moderate and that not all Muslims are terrorists it's just a very small extremist sect."

Brown, who could serve active duty if called upon, said the trip was extremely rewarding.

"I think we accomplished the mission, which was to show people in that part of the world that we're honest and hardworking and we'll be there if there's a disaster," he said. "They're pretty cool, too, hardworking and dedicated."